Warming winter soup...

Winter will just not relieve its grip here. Despite the fact that next week is the Spring solstice we were back to negative temperatures last week. It has warmed up slightly this weekend, but we are apparently returning to arctic temperatures again next week.

So, in consideration of a cold Saturday evening at home, and coupled with my current task of eating through all of the staples in my pantry*, I decided to make a warming winter soup for supper last night. (* This is turning in to somewhat of an experiment as I am testing the reality of 'best-before' dates...so far, eating tinned food stuffs dating back to 2010 has been risk-free...yes, it has been this long since I properly cleaned out my pantry. Hence, my determination to get through the staples before re-stocking).

Anyway, back to the soup. This is a recipe I originally collected 15 years ago when I lived in Glasgow (I think it probably came from the UK Good Food magazine). I used to make it quite a lot but hadn't made it in years. So, when I was I thinking of a recipe that would use up some circa 2011 white beans and some end of packet wholewheat pasta, this came to mind.

Pasta and Bean Soup (serves 6)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion chopped
1 carrot, diced
1 celery stick, diced
400g can borlotti beans (I used cannellini beans as that was what was in the pantry)
55g small pasta shapes
2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary (1 tsp if using dried)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
600ml bottle passata
600ml vegetable stock
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
parmesan cheese to serve

1. Heat the olive oil in a pan and fry the onion, carrot, celery, rosemary and garlic for 10 mins until soft (I add the garlic towards the end so that it doesn't burn).
2. Add the passata, vegetable stock and beans to the pan and bring to the boil.
3. Cover with a lid and simmer for 30 minutes.
4. Stir in the pasta shapes and parsley, add seasoning to taste.
5. Return to a low simmer, cover again, and cook for a further 10 mins or until the pasta is cooked.
6. Spoon the soup into individual serving bowls, and sprinkle with grated parmesan.

(I also added a couple of rashers of diced bacon in to step one...I'm clearing out my very small freezer as well!)

Served with a slice of wholemeal bread it was the perfect supper for a cold and wet evening at home....and it was as tasty as I remember...

...which is just as well really, as I will now be eating the leftovers all week (only the small tubs in the picture above will actually fit in my minuscule UK freezer)...

Finally...a knitted stole

I've had quite a productive week in terms of my handmade productivity. I finally finished this knitted stole at the end of last week and blocked it during the week. I originally purchased this lovely wool/silk mix months ago, and this is actually the third pattern I've tried. The first (a curved shawl design) barely got past casting on as I didn't like that the cast-on edge didn't look symmetrical. Then I attempted a large square shawl..and actually had completed about two-thirds of it before I started to have major issues with the pattern and lost my love for it. So, this is my final attempt - a basic rectangular stole in a pretty lace pattern. It is large enough to wear as a stole, but also to use as a standard scarf...

...and given that we are returning to cold weather again this week, it will be sure to get some wear before spring makes itself properly felt.

I've also managed to complete a little handmade project that will form part of my mother's day gift this year (which although it is Mothering Sunday here in the UK today, it is not until May in Australia...so will wait and post about it then so as not to spoil the surprise).

In other news...my flight is finally booked. This time in 4 weeks I'll be in Providence RI getting ready to start the first week of my travel fellowship at Brown University. I've one hotel booked, but need to finalise accommodation in the other three cities I am visiting which I plan to do this week. I'm feeling much calmer now that task is ticked off...and I'm starting to think of more pleasant things in terms of which little/portable sewing/craft projects I will be making room for in my suitcase to cover the month I am away...

The difference a few days can make...

In my last post I moaned...about the cold weather ... but what a difference a few days can make in one's attitude...

Literally the day after I posted London was treated to the most glorious afternoon of sunshine - it was still cold, but I re-affirmed that I actually don't mind it so much if the sun is shining brilliantly. It was the same day that the Queen came to open the new hospital on one of the sites where I work...and whilst I didn't get to see her in person, I did see the beautiful Bentley in which see arrived, and got to meet one of the even more lovely Metropolitan Police sniffer dogs (a lovely black spaniel who seemed to be having such a good time doing his job) as I was catching a lift to a meeting...

I spent Thursday and Friday last week at a conference in a venue opposite Westminster Abbey. As I walked out on Thursday afternoon this was my view...and it reminded me as to how blind one can become to the experience of living in a city such as London. When I first arrived in London 15 years ago, I didn't like it all...it felt big and dirty, and I couldn't even contemplate the thought of living here. I ended up working in Scotland, and came to appreciate London (from a tourist's perspective) over time through weekend visits to see friends.

However, even when I arrived back here seven years ago, I didn't think I'd still be living in London all of these years later. It is still big, it is cumbersome to get around at times, it's size can make it feel very anonymous, and much of it's population can feel transient (especially in the ex-pat communities) which can make it difficult to feel settled. But, I seem to have adjusted to those elements - to the extent that I can easily forget to appreciate what is surrounding me as I get on with day to day life.

Where else could I sit in a conference masterclass with this as the view from the window...

...so, some blue sky, an increase of temperature to 7 degrees and my favourite building on London has made me an altogether happier person this week!

Where is spring and other random thoughts...

I have reached my limit - I am so tired of this continuing cold weather and craving some warmer weather (and when I say warm I'm only talking in the region of 8-9 degrees...I'm not asking for miracles here...it is still February after all). I've given up trying to ration my very expensive electric heating, because I was still feeling cold despite wearing three layers...inside the flat.

Despite having a two week reprieve and warmth when in Sydney at the end of January, for the shortest month February has felt interminable. Here's hoping that the arrival of March at the end of the week will also bring a weather pattern that makes it possible to spend more than a few minutes outside without shivering.

I spent Monday in a development day at work - held in the Great Hall at the hospital at which I work. This is  a beautiful space, but it too was frigid...we sat there in our coats all day. When we think of hospitals now we think of bright, modern, clinical facilities. However, one of the benefits of working at the oldest hospital in London is the history that remains. Walking in the main entry to reach the Great Hall one ascends this beautiful oak staircase with large Hogarth paintings on each of the walls - it is always such a privilege to be able to see this art. There has been a hospital on the site since 1123 - something I always struggle to get my head around...

Amidst the snow flurries I drove down to West Sussex on Saturday to spend the weekend with my friend C...she not only has proper central heating, but also an open fire - bliss! I was properly warm! Add to that some fabulous 'glam mac and cheese' from Lorraine Pascale's cookbook for supper after watching the England v France six-nations game, and I was very happy...

...and finally, the plans for the travel fellowship are coming together. I've had confirmation from 3 of the 4 sites I am planning to visit, so hopefully I can proceed to flight booking by the end of the week...

Planning, planning....

Last year I decided it would be a good idea to apply for two scholarships/fellowships for 2013. I was beginning to feel a little set in my ways at work and thought these would be a good idea for an opportunity to travel, learn, and come back rejuvenated with new ideas for my day to day work.

So over the course of several months last year I duly completed applications forms for both. One was a travel fellowship that is open to all UK citizens of any profession/background...the other was a leadership scholarship for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals - but for which I proposed to undertake a trip as a visiting scholar to several overseas institutions. When I submitted them both last autumn I was hopeful that I might be awarded one...I never dreamed that I would be in the running for both.

As the year drew to a close, the news started to filter in. I was called to an interview for one in November, and also advised that I had been short-listed for the second (involving the completion of a further application and an interview in January). Although I didn't feel terribly confident after the November interview, I heard at the beginning of December that I had been awarded the leadership scholarship. Just before I flew to Australia in January I duly attended the interview for the travel fellowship - I thought that this interview performance was much better, but knew I needed to wait a few weeks to hear the outcome.

Last Tuesday I received a thick letter in the post advising me that I had also been successful for this fellowship. So, I am now feeling delighted but daunted. At some point this year I need to fit in the planned programme for both awards, and still manage to have enough of a presence at work that they think it is worthwhile keeping my position.

I had hoped to complete the travel fellowship in April (to co-ordinate with my attendance at a conference in early May)...so I am now in mad panic mode about trying to confirm with my proposed host institutions that they are in fact happy to have me come...and then books flights...and accommodation etc etc. For someone who likes planning, order and structure, I am feeling a little chaotic this week as I am on tenterhooks waiting to hear back from the US about the trip...

...so, there is nothing like retreating to known comforts when life seems a little out of control. A cup of tea, a slice of cake and some knitting can always induce a feeling of calmness (or at least diversion and the opportunity to think about something else).

I'm hoping to have the April itinerary confirmed by the end of this week (which may be wishful thinking, but I have my fingers crossed). But, I have an orchestra concert to which to look forward on Wednesday evening (Dvorak's New World which has always been a favourite), and then a trip to Sussex this weekend to catch up with a good friend - so at least I have other diversions to help prevent my brain imploding!

A civilised tete-a-tete at Fortnum and Masons...

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Saturday in London was cold and dreary with that horrible misty rain that seems to make the weather seem much worse than it actually is.

Fortunately, I had brunch with two old friends to which to look forward - we shared a flat for three years here in London when I first arrived back from Sydney. Now one lives in New York, and the other lives about as far from me in London as it is possible to get without going outside the M25. So it was a lovely opportunity to spend a few hours together yesterday morning.

We had planned on going to The Wolseley which we had often frequented together...but being unable to get a booking, and hearing there was an hour wait for a table on our arrival we pottered down Piccadilly to Fortnum and Mason instead. I ashamedly admitted that I hadn't set foot in this store apart from my first visit to London (more years ago than I care to remember) when I was treated to lunch by my aunt and uncle. What a loss for me - this is just such a beautiful store.

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Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to explore the wonderful food hall yesterday as we passed through it on our way to the restaurant...but that has only enticed me to return for proper consideration of all of it's loveliness.

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We made out way to the Gallery restaurant (there are several to choose from within the store), and it was a lovely place to while away a few hours as we caught up on each of our news. It also seems as if I attempted to eat my way through their baked goods menu - trying their English breakfast muffin (with preserves) for a late breakfast...and then we shared a plate of scones with jam and cream just before we left. I would have to say though that there were 3 hours between each of those meals! Topped off with some lovely tea served in beautiful silver teapots it was a lovely place to spend a Saturday afternoon (so much so that I didn't even mind the extensive commute home that took at least twice as long as normal thanks to the disruption that is weekend engineering work on the London Underground)...

Sorting and decluttering...

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Living in a small flat, I need to keep on top of my decluttering. Even in a small space it is remarkable how quickly I seem to acquire an assortment of odds and ends that either need to find their way into suitable storage, or make their way into someone else's home (generally by route of the charity shop).

However, I've spent the last week or so engaged in some much bigger decluttering projects for my mother while I was on holiday in Sydney. My mother has some significant health issues with arthritis and has long had some difficulty reaching into the further reaches of her corner kitchen cupboards. So, by day 3 of my trip I was on my hands and knees turning up all sorts of treasures. By the end of my trip we had finished the two corner units, and also decluttered and re-organised her sideboard and linen press. My poor mother kept insisting that I should stop and actually have a holiday (I think she would have appreciated the rest herself)...I had to explain that sorting and organising really does make me happy, and so it didn't actually feel like a chore...(and I do appreciate that this is not a 'normal' feeling!). But given that I had spent the entire first day of my trip (after a 24 hour flight) in her garage going through in excess of 45 storage boxes of my own goods and chattels in an attempt to streamline what will ultimately be shipped to the UK, a small kitchen cupboard was light work.

We didn't quite get to finish all that we hoped, so I have a few more projects to 'enjoy' when I am back in Sydney again in the second part of the year - the laundry cupboard, the filing cabinet and the dreaded tupperware cupboard still await...